This remarkable footage shows aerial scenes of Hastings Beach, Sussex and offshore on 4 June 1942, as Commandos returned from Operation Bristle, the raid on St Cecily Plage, Le Touquet. In fly pasts conducted by a low flying Anson aircraft there are numerous closeups of a Coastal Forces flotilla of Fairmile C-class Gunboats, including MGB 324 and MGB 328. The 14th MGB Flotilla usually operated in two divisions, one from Hornet at Gosport and the other from Wasp at Dover. The Hornet division later formed the 1st Coastal Force Flotilla used on special operations and raids, and is likely the flotilla seen here.
IWM: Commandos Return to Hastings After Raid on St Cecily Plage
Fairmile 'C' Gunboats
Re: Fairmile 'C' Gunboats
Brilliant footage! Looks like a pair of 63 ft MA/SBs about 1 minute in as well.
Re: Fairmile 'C' Gunboats
Great pictures having served on D Boats in the Mediterranean, it is great to see "live" footage of Coastal Forces craft serving in WW2
I also think that there were B class ML's in the footage
I also think that there were B class ML's in the footage
Re: Fairmile 'C' Gunboats
Great find Admin - well done.
Sad, but in little over a month, 328 was sunk off Dover with the loss of 5 lives.
Sad, but in little over a month, 328 was sunk off Dover with the loss of 5 lives.
Re: Fairmile 'C' Gunboats
The Cs have an unusual panel bow and stern. They appear to be either white or yellow and the stern panels are in slightly different positions on each boat.